Now, for the record, we’re comparing Modesto to other California cities. Given that qualification, we will say that Modesto has some beautiful neighborhoods, like Graceada Park or Coffee-Sylvan areas, with cool, older renovated homes. What’s more, these homes are priced incredibly reasonably compared to other options closer to San Francisco. If you’re looking for a beautiful, historic home at a reasonable price, Modesto could be your spot. 


Housing

LookyLOO Review of Modesto

For being kind of in the middle of nowhere, Modesto has a lot going on. The revitalized downtown has great restaurants, a performing arts center with two amazing venues, a symphony orchestra, an opera company, a repertory theater company, and several theaters showing new and independent movies and live music. There is also a thriving art community a majestic park with an outdoor theater for free summer concerts. 

This is really how the people of Modesto live in these walkscore-friendly neighborhoods. Enjoying the “downtown” activities of a city that created its own scene to accommodate the distance to other metros. 

If you want to see what locals get up to in Modesto, check out the [**calendar of events**](https://allevents.in/modesto).

We highly recommend visiting Modesto and staying in the community in a [VRBO](https://vrbo.com/affiliate/p4JS4ZC) rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our [partnership with Expedia](expedia.com/affiliate/9NZ8LBQ) as well.

Lifestyle 

Modesto is truly an agricultural center of the United States. The area produces 8% of the entire agricultural output of the country so expect lots of local workers to depend directly or indirectly on farm production. The corporate business here is also connected to the food industry. Foster Farms and Save Mart Supermarkets (operate Lucky’s, FoodMaxx and Albertsons) are here. 

The world’s largest winery, Gallo, is here. And finally you have Blue Diamond Growers, an almond processing business, headquartered in Modesto. If you aren’t in the food biz or the local service economy, then you’re probably coming here to work from home. As was noted in the best part of Modesto, that can work. 


Worklife

Our sense is that if you insist on living in a big metroplex like San Francisco or Los Angeles then you probably won’t have Modesto on your list. On the other hand, if you’re a work-from-homer and you want to live approximately two hours from everything: San Francisco, Yosemite, The Sierras and more, then Modesto might work for you. Think of it as a quiet home base that serves as a launching pad when the mood strikes you to hit the city, the national parks or the slopes. 


The Comeback Kid

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**mariposanavegante**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉

Some people make Modesto sound horrible, and it’s not that bad. I can see both the pros and cons of living here and comparing to other places in California, the central valley is a better option. We’re only a drive away from the Bay Area(San Francisco), Yosemite, and Sacramento. Housing is more affordable here than living in the bay or LA

I would suggest looking into housing in Ripon or Manteca if you’re looking for something more relaxing.

Modesto - especially downtown Modesto is a little more lively when it comes to activities, restaurants, bars, live music, events, etc. Modesto is very community orientated. We have an art walk, and street festivals/parades.

Depending on the area, there is heavy homelessness.. However, we see homelessness everywhere and if you’re coming from Detroit, you won’t find it surprising.. it’s sad but it’s reality.

Manteca is more laid back because there isn’t as much to do but it is growing.. Ripon is an even smaller town but housing is newer and nicer.

For more reviews of Modesto from locals, check out: **[The Reviews](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/modesto/reviews)**

Reviews of Modesto from Locals

Modesto is in the Central Valley of California and is surrounded by rich farmland and the kind of pollen that anyone who has lived in a farming area knows can crush your spirit. The city is north in the central valley and so is geographically closer to San Francisco/San Jose than Los Angeles. It also sits roughly in the middle of the state on the east/west axis between the forests and mountains of Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite to its east and the cities and coast of the Bay Area to the west. As was noted in the “Why Move Now” section its either isolated, or conveniently located depending on your appetite for driving. 

There is an airport in Modesto that has private and charter option types but if you need a major airport then Oakland or San Jose will be your closest options at roughly 75-90 minutes away when there is no traffic. 


The Area

Modesto is not a city that pulls in a lot of young professionals, given the remoteness of the city. That said, there is a downtown arts scene with plenty of bars, restaurants and boutique shopping. If you move here for work then most will choose to live in the neighborhoods downtown and surrounding area. A combo of apartments/condos and apartments in homes make up the majority of the housing options in these areas. 
- Downtown (or DoMo)


Young Professionals

Downtown

Which neighborhoods are best for young families will vary based on your pricing appetite but anything surrounding Graceada Park is a great option. These are older homes, some of which are renovated, beautiful and expensive, but some are older and can be had for more reasonable prices. The proximity to the park makes them ideal for walking the little ones over for playtime. Additional options to kick off your search include Coffee-Sylvan, East Modesto, and Northeast Modesto. Pricing in these areas average in the mid to high 200’s, which for California is pretty reasonable. 
- Coffee-Sylvan
- East Modesto
- Northeast Modesto


Young Families

Coffee-Sylvan

Go North or East to find the fancier digs of Modesto. The Del Rio Country Club neighborhood is primo real estate and where we’d recommend starting if you’re looking for bigger homes, great lawns and the amenities of a country club area. Dutch Hollow and Tuscany are also really nice neighborhoods with newer construction of larger homes, big lawns and plenty of parks and sidewalks for the kids to ride their bikes around the areas. These three neighborhoods are the launching pad for your search.  
- Del Rio Country Club
- Dutch Hollow
- Tuscany


Established Families

Del Rio Country Club

Modesto

**Hour-Watch8988**
1y ago
🦉🦉

It's entirely car-dependent, with pretty brutal summers. But you're not very far from the Sierras, and the winters have some of the nicest weather in the country. Air quality is bad pretty much year-round. Politics are pretty purple. There's a university nearby in Turlock, but the general vibe is still very ag-centered blue-collar. Great produce is everywhere.

**eilonwyhasemu**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉

Modesto
Wet, at the moment. Very wet.

Modesto is a working-class small city that's dominated by agribusiness and also used as a commuter exurb for the San Francisco Bay Area. The commuters move here because they want to own a house with a yard. An unofficial slogan used to be "on the way to everywhere" because it's a reasonable drive to the SF Bay Area, Sacramento, the Sierra foothills, and assorted other places.

This is a great place for tree-lined streets, year-round gardening, car culture (especially vintage car shows), and local art (Mistlin Gallery is a treasure). It's perfectly fine at things small cities generally have, like varied restaurants, getting touring musicians smaller than the arena level, and providing generic chain stores. If you want big-city amenities like walkable neighborhoods, extensive mass transit, snazzy apartments, Michelin-star restaurants, and extensive night life, Stanislaus County is not going to suit you. If you have kids, you can find good schools, but not all the schools are good.

Be cautious in choosing housing. California housing generally looks expensive compared to other places, so unless you're coming from somewhere even pricier, it's easy to get sucked into "bargains" that are some house-flipper's project in a neighborhood with high crime or general misery.

mariposanavegante
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉

Some people make Modesto sound horrible and it’s not that bad.. I can see both pros and cons to living here and comparing to other places in California, the central valley is a better option. We’re only a drive away from the Bay Area(San Francisco), Yosemite, and Sacramento. Housing is more affordable here than living in the bay or LA

I would suggest looking into housing in Ripon or Manteca if you’re looking for something more relaxing.

Modesto - especially downtown Modesto is a little more lively when it comes to activities, restaurants, bars, live music, events, etc. Modesto is very community orientated. We have an art walk, and street festivals/parades.

Depending on the area, there is heavy homelessness.. However, we see homelessness everywhere and if you’re coming from Detroit, you won’t find it surprising.. it’s sad but it’s reality.

Manteca is more laid back because there isn’t as much to do but it is growing.. Ripon is an even smaller town but housing is newer and nicer.

**The 5 Pros and Cons of Living in Modesto you must know about! | Modesto California**

Modesto, California

Tree City

Looklyloo Score: 79

Reviews

What's it like to live in Modesto?